The Beauty of a Forest Reflected

[Otavio]

Otavio and Binnur... Your question on the time of day this image was photographed made me think that perhaps I lost the golden hour feel. I photographed this at 6:39 am in the morning about 20 minutes after sunrise... Therefore I started from scratch lowering the original exposure by .40, please let me know if my edit reflects this or if it's too dark.

Christina,

Considering you shot it 20 minutes after sunrise, then it is golden hour. Maybe it would work better in the afternoon (about half an hour before sunset). If you live close to this place, it would be nice to reshoot it and make the comparison. That would be a nice study for your and our learning. The reason for that is it seems, to me, that the light source is quite directed to the camera (again, I can be completely wrong on this!), so in the afternoon you would have the source behind you (and your camera).

Also, although you used 10mm focal length, I would increase shutter speed a little at a price of raising your ISO (you have a darn good sensor for that ) just to avoid any leaves movement/shake due to any wind blowing on them.

I hope this makes any sense...

The second/other image works still better for me! Instead of the vertically centralized composition, this one has a leading line to the vertical third of the image that works pretty nice, IMHO. Well done!

Cheers,

[purplehaze]

Well done, Christina! I think Terri and Binnur were right about the yellows getting muddy, but you appear to have brought them back somewhere in the middle. I think this is one of those images that calls for a combination of very selective, very subtle edits, depending on what you what to emphasize. I think you have done a great job of adding further depth to this scene.

Mike has already said what I wanted to say about the partial vignette.

As far as the symmetry goes, I love symmetry and this image certainly has it. But what I find interesting about this image is that it also has asymmetry with respect to the lighting and what I was interested in was exploring how to exploit both for added tension or dynamism.

So glad that you feel I was helpful as it has been a great learning exercise for me, too.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Christina I agree with Otavio about shooting the same scene in the afternoon to see if it makes any difference because IMO the light doesn't help in your morning shot for some reason (may be it is because of the direction of light as Otavio mentioned above).

IMO the composition and light works better in your second image.

PS. Last edit of your first image looks good to me. I would bring out the yellows a bit but it is really personal preference.

[Brownbear]

Thank you.

I will visit again at sunrise and try to find a viewpoint a little further along with more front lighting, and also at sunset as Otavio has suggested. The lighting on this tree bank is odd because it comes from the side and above (mountains behind) which means that the center portion with the prettiest trees is in shadow until the light is higher.

Here is my crop

Edit #3




Thank you for the tips on vignettes. I'm sure I can do anything with my software it's only a matter of me learning how to use the tools I have to create vignettes.

Wonderful image that perhaps can be improved only by capturing the scene in better light. The symmetry works perfectly for me.

Consider cropping a little off both sides. Regarding the partial vignette: if your vignette tool doesn't allow you to erase part of it either by reducing its strength in certain areas or by eliminating it in certain areas, simply use a brush with very soft edges to hand paint the vignette.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mark,

Thank you. I live close to this area and it is exceptionally beautiful so I plan to visit often.

I will try a polarizer with my 18-200 mm lens for a zoomed in shot depending on the light direction and how dark the scene is so we'll see how it goes.

Gorgeous - well seen and captured. A spot worth continuing to work at too.

I wondered whether a circular polarizer might have afforded some interesting options, only to see you're at 10mm, where the effects vary across the frame sufficiently to be generally be unusable.

[bnnrcn]

IMO crop looks better Christina, all good work , would you please number your images next time to make things easier?

[Brownbear]

Hi Otavio,

Yes, photographed during golden hour. I do live close less than an hours hike and will visit again to check the light on this bank before sunset. Note - It may take me a while to do so because I will need to find a day when my husband can accompany me on a nice day (it rains a lot in Vancouver during the winter)... The reason being is that while I'm fine with hiking in the dark as the light is coming up I'm not as comfortable hiking out in the pitch dark. I will make a note to myself to do so, and to post the results in this thread once done.

The light is partially from the side and from above (mountains), not back lit. Yes, I can see the flutter in the leaves in the treetops so next time around I'll use a faster shutter speed.

All of your advice is clear and very helpful.

I have a few similar shots of the 2nd image. So exploring the potential of the first image is my next goal.

Thank you Otavio! I promise to share the results of my next try as soon as I am able to do so.

Christina,

Considering you shot it 20 minutes after sunrise, then it is golden hour. Maybe it would work better in the afternoon (about half an hour before sunset). If you live close to this place, it would be nice to reshoot it and make the comparison. That would be a nice study for your and our learning. The reason for that is it seems, to me, that the light source is quite directed to the camera (again, I can be completely wrong on this!), so in the afternoon you would have the source behind you (and your camera).

Also, although you used 10mm focal length, I would increase shutter speed a little at a price of raising your ISO (you have a darn good sensor for that ) just to avoid any leaves movement/shake due to any wind blowing on them.

I hope this makes any sense...

The second/other image works still better for me! Instead of the vertically centralized composition, this one has a leading line to the vertical third of the image that works pretty nice, IMHO. Well done!

Cheers,

[Brownbear]

Thank you Janis!

Very helpful and the lesson in post processing such select details will stand me in good stead for future images.

Well done, Christina! I think Terri and Binnur were right about the yellows getting muddy, but you appear to have brought them back somewhere in the middle. I think this is one of those images that calls for a combination of very selective, very subtle edits, depending on what you what to emphasize. I think you have done a great job of adding further depth to this scene.

Mike has already said what I wanted to say about the partial vignette.

As far as the symmetry goes, I love symmetry and this image certainly has it. But what I find interesting about this image is that it also has asymmetry with respect to the lighting and what I was interested in was exploring how to exploit both for added tension or dynamism.

So glad that you feel I was helpful as it has been a great learning exercise for me, too.

[Brownbear]

Hi Binnur,

Thank you for sharing. I will visit again and post the same shot here once I have the chance to do so.

Your input is always appreciated.

PS Edits are now numbered.

Hi Christina I agree with Otavio about shooting the same scene in the afternoon to see if it makes any difference because IMO the light doesn't help in your morning shot for some reason (may be it is because of the direction of light as Otavio mentioned above).

IMO the composition and light works better in your second image.

PS. Last edit of your first image looks good to me. I would bring out the yellows a bit but it is really personal preference.

[ShaneS]

Christina, count me as one who likes the symmetry in this image. It is a lovely scene and I think it would be great to explore it in different light.

If it makes you feel any better I too struggle with vignettes. I tend to use a 50% gray layer in Photoshop and paint in black where I want the vignette and then often change the layer from overlay to soft light. I then adjust the opacity until I like it. For me I find that if I start with something that is quite stark but that I can really "see" helps me and then I bring down the opacity to suit. It might not be the best practice technically but it works for me

Also, I want to say that I really like the composition in the 2nd image that you posted. Again playing with that scene under different lighting conditions has the potential for something really special! As it is you might want to try and black and white conversion to work on that skill set.

[Brownbear]

Hi Shane,

Thank you for taking the time to comment and advise. I will explore this scene in different light.

Thank you so much for sharing your way of creating vignettes. I will give it a try.

After reading your post I tried a black and white version. The water and sky look best with a neutral filter and darker blues and aquas.... The trees look best with a red filter (my preference for high key) but it doesn't suit the water. The darker version of B&W is too gloomy for me. I think I when I prefer high key black and white images, very much like some of yours I've seen but this scene doesn't seem to suit it. That said it was a great exercise for me to try.

Thank you Shane!

And thank you to everyone who has helped me along with this image, and future images of this scene.

Christina, count me as one who likes the symmetry in this image. It is a lovely scene and I think it would be great to explore it in different light.

If it makes you feel any better I too struggle with vignettes. I tend to use a 50% gray layer in Photoshop and paint in black where I want the vignette and then often change the layer from overlay to soft light. I then adjust the opacity until I like it. For me I find that if I start with something that is quite stark but that I can really "see" helps me and then I bring down the opacity to suit. It might not be the best practice technically but it works for me

Also, I want to say that I really like the composition in the 2nd image that you posted. Again playing with that scene under different lighting conditions has the potential for something really special! As it is you might want to try and black and white conversion to work on that skill set.

[FootLoose]

Beautiful shot, Christina.

I would try to darken the hill in the background at right, to separate it from the yellow of the trees in front of it. CC's colour selection tool might be helpful for that.

As for partial vignettes: I find the gradient tool in ACR most useful. Just drag it in the corner where you want it, repeat as necessary until you build up the level you want.

[Brownbear]

Thank you.

I'm working on a final version, and I've darkened the hillside. Not posting because we've all seen enough of this image but thank you for advising. Done and truly appreciated.

Beautiful shot, Christina.

I would try to darken the hill in the background at right, to separate it from the yellow of the trees in front of it. CC's colour selection tool might be helpful for that.

As for partial vignettes: I find the gradient tool in ACR most useful. Just drag it in the corner where you want it, repeat as necessary until you build up the level you want.

[Nicks Pics]

Hi Christina,
Sorry, I didn't read everything everyone has said about this image so far, just wanted to comment on how it is really neat how you can see under the water in the foreground where you can see a log and the rocks It adds a really interesting dimension to a water image that is not always there.

[Brownbear]

Hi Nick,

Thank you. Truly nice to know because the log and the rock is the only thing I could find as a foreground subject.

Hi Christina,
Sorry, I didn't read everything everyone has said about this image so far, just wanted to comment on how it is really neat how you can see under the water in the foreground where you can see a log and the rocks It adds a really interesting dimension to a water image that is not always there.

[Brownbear]

While I haven't yet managed to visit this place to explore the light at sunset (still to do) we had a wee snowfall in Vancouver, a rare event, and I love photographing scenes in the snow, so to me that counts as different light.

2A
f/8 SS 4 seconds ISO 100 (before sunrise and a different viewpoint)



I didn't manage to capture the same scene as parts of the trail were flooded/icy/snow and that same portion of trees that I find especially beautiful were rather homely looking. So another viewpoint (not from a low angle because it was too cold to lay down in the snow) (-12 C with the windchill)

f/8 SS 1/30 Sec ISO 100

2B



3B

I was feeling artistic and enhanced the blue tones more than true to life.




PS
Otavio... I forgot to try a higher shutter speed and ISO so the tree tops would be sharper. It was too cold to think properly but next time around I will remember!

[ShaneS]

The first is great Christina although I might crop to a square and lose a good chunk of the water if it were mine. Also rotate it a bit while you are at it as it appears to be slanting down the the left

You might also be able to raise the white point on the snow (brighten) on the branches of the trees a bit. The sun wasn't doing you any favors in the last two in terms of being positioned on the background mountains rather that the foreground trees

I applaud your dedication to go out and shoot in that weather. Although I'm a BC gal I've spent almost 20 years in a warmer climate and have become quite a woos when it comes to being cold!

[bnnrcn]

Hi Christina I like the first image as is. I loved the cold grey tones in the image and long shadows in the water suit the composition nicely.I like the light on the hills in #2 and #3, also very nice reflections in the water. IMO that cropped tree on RHS doesn't suit the composition in #2. And I wish you had framed the whole tree on RHS in #3.

[Brownbear]

Hi Shane,

Thank you for the feedback. Always appreciated.

In the first I liked the light on the water leading to the trees but I will just revisit for a closer in composition, hopefully with snow.

Yes, in the sun rises from behind another mountain behind me so it hits the peaks of the mountains first, and by the time the trees are light by the sun the light is just not the same. So the next time around will be at sunset.

It's too cold for me too, but I love the snow.

The first is great Christina although I might crop to a square and lose a good chunk of the water if it were mine. Also rotate it a bit while you are at it as it appears to be slanting down the the left

You might also be able to raise the white point on the snow (brighten) on the branches of the trees a bit. The sun wasn't doing you any favors in the last two in terms of being positioned on the background mountains rather that the foreground trees

I applaud your dedication to go out and shoot in that weather. Although I'm a BC gal I've spent almost 20 years in a warmer climate and have become quite a woos when it comes to being cold!

[Brownbear]

Hi Binnur,

Thank you, as always.

With respect to the trees in #2 & #3, good to know. I think on this morning because it was so windy I excluded them because they were messy or I simply couldn't manage to get to a position where I could include them, but the next time I visit (at sunset of course) I will include them.

In this follow-up I'm posting just to learn from, so no post-processing edits, simply taking the feedback with the aim to improve my compositions and use of light the next time around.

Hi Christina I like the first image as is. I loved the cold grey tones in the image and long shadows in the water suit the composition nicely.I like the light on the hills in #2 and #3, also very nice reflections in the water. IMO that cropped tree on RHS doesn't suit the composition in #2. And I wish you had framed the whole tree on RHS in #3.